Jim Annin Photo Collection

About this collection

James T. Annin, eldest son of Senator Joseph (J. B.) and Janet (Haldine) Annin, was born in Livingston, MT, and moved with his family to Columbus in 1892. After graduating with the first senior class of Columbus in 1906, he then graduated from Montana State College (Bozeman) and became the publisher for the Columbus News until 1932. He went on to become a rancher, forester, and state representative, as well as secretary and finance officer of the state Republican party (see page 13, They Gazed upon the Beartooths). In 1960 he began the collection and copying of photographs of Stillwater families, which, along with text, became the three-part county history mentioned in the cross-reference above. Originally intended as something less comprehensive than the ultimate end product, the photograph collection grew to over 2,300 8 x 10 inch prints before the history was published in 1964. Many of the photographs are composites of several smaller snapshots; some were not included in They Gazed upon the Beartooths; others were included without explanation as to their subjects’ significance in the settling of Stillwater County.